Chapter 26: Trapped in the Forsaken passage
Hiraku, Mira, and Lisa sat on the floor next to each other, forming a square. Lisa began chanting the transmigration spell, and shortly after, the great pentagon appeared underneath them. The yellowish glow from the pentagon suspended their spirits, causing them to leave their bodies. Hiraku stared at his arm in surprise—he could feel that his spirit had left his body. This could only happen if one had died, but he still felt as though his body and spirit were one. Misaki nodded in approval, signaling that they were to transmigrate into Shin and her daughter's bodies simultaneously. In an instant, they appeared in a strange place that looked like a dungeon. Misaki led the way; the passage was narrow, and light was barely visible. Hiraku's Spirit Sword appeared, its fiery light illuminating the passage.Misaki stopped and moved closer to the wall, signaling Hiraku to come closer.
"These symbols represent the marksmanship of a skilled demon. According to research that Zack and I conducted, there is an alpha demon who serves Orobas, the demon prince of a third of the Earth. This demon is skilled in the arts of deception, traps, and manifesting lesser demons from other planes. This dungeon is a craft created by the demon. Here!" Misaki exclaimed, pointing to a sketch on the wall with complex patterns.
"This place is called the Forsaken Passage. It is known to have traps and illusions that are deceptive to the mind. Do not believe anything you see, and we must stay together," Misaki instructed them in a firm tone.
They all nodded in agreement and walked toward the passage. The further they went, the wider the passage became, and the distance to the wall opposite them grew. Hiraku was in the middle, and the others walked beside him, the light guiding them forward.Suddenly, Hiraku heard a voice in the darkness.
"Brother," Hiraku whispered to himself. No, it can't be. His brother's spirit couldn't be in a place like this, and Zack had clearly given him a revelation of his brother ascending. He shut his eyes and focused on the way forward, but he heard the faint whisper again calling to him.
"Brother, is that you?!" Hiraku bellowed, his arms clutching his sword tighter. He could hear the voice calling louder now. He looked to his side and couldn't see Lisa, Mira, or Misaki. It was as though they had vanished. He shut his eyes and gritted his teeth. The calling grew louder, and he couldn't resist anymore. His sword fell to the ground as he clutched his head in apprehension and dread. He yelled for the voice to stop. The temptation to run toward the voice was strong, but he wouldn't put the rest in danger. He knelt down, still clutching his head, when the Sword of the Spirit glowed brightly on the ground and transformed into him—a copy.
The copy patted Hiraku on the head and, with a whisper, said, "Truth isn't a calling, but what is in your heart."
Hiraku slowly lifted his head, his will slowly becoming resolute.
"Get up," the copy said before disappearing. He could hear the faint yelling of his friends and Misaki. Slowly, he regained his spiritual consciousness, and with a deep breath, he picked up his sword.
"Are you alright?" Lisa asked, holding onto his arm and looking at him worriedly.
"I'm fine. Forgive me," Hiraku said, looking at Misaki while clutching his sword.
"It's alright. Let's keep going," Misaki responded calmly, trying to keep her mind focused on the path ahead. A glint of worry flashed in her eyes, fearing that the alpha demon must have been alerted. She held onto her pendant.
"What! Where is it?" she thought to herself. She clutched her chest, and in a state of panic, she rummaged through her clothes.
"Where is it?!" she screamed, terror in her eyes. "Where is the pendant?" She ran toward the darkness, feeling a faint glow on the ground. She smiled between heavy breaths and tried to pick it up, but her left leg stepped on a lever, which slid downwards. The glow on the ground disappeared, and she looked on in shock and dismay. She placed her hands on her chest and realized the pendant had always been around her neck. Regaining her composure, she heard Hiraku and his friends screaming her name as they ran toward her. Tears welled up in her eyes, but the ground beneath her gave way, and they all fell into its depths.
Hiraku felt pain coursing through his body and realized he was in a constricted space. Slowly, he squinted his eyes open to find himself awake in a cubic cage. The bars were made of metal that glowed with a black ash aura. His surroundings resembled a cell, the floor jagged with a mineral-like rock, and a ball of light hung in mid-air, illuminating the cell. He peered forward and saw a figure wearing a coat and a hat, its face dark with eyes glistening in a reddish glow. The figure stood motionless, as if waiting for someone to speak.
Hiraku tried using his powers. He placed his right index and third fingers on his head, but nothing manifested. He raised his right hand, attempting to summon the Sword of the Spirit, but he felt no power—no source of his innate light.
"You can't use your powers, boy," the figure spoke, its voice crackling in the distance. Its eyes gleamed red with a killing intent. "The audacity you mortals have to wander here through a transmigration spell. Foolish mortals!" it bellowed, still standing in place.
"... But I'll admit, I never knew you would all be tricked by my deceptive spell so easily. Ah, yes, you came to save them. But I'm afraid you will all be consumed by the fiery flames I have set in place just for you." The demon concluded, spreading its arms. A black aura with sparks of flame enveloped its hands. The cage rattled loudly.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone